Former White House official to speak at PSU

PITTSBURG — Tina Tchen, who served in various roles in the executive branch, will be featured as a speaker as part of Pittsburg State’s Women in Government Lecture Series.

Over the past 12 years Pittsburg State University had diverse women speakers from various branches and roles in government — including Kathleen Sebelius, Kerry Kennedy, Winona LaDuke, Lynn Jenkins, Laura Bush and Dr. Jackie McClaskey.

Tchen served eight years in the White House as the White House director of public liaison, chief of staff to First Lady Michelle Obama and special assistant to President Obama.

“She will share what it looks like to be a women in government,” PSU Vice President for University Advancement Kathleen Flannery said.

According to a release, Tchen led the first-ever White House Summit on Working Families and the first-ever United States of Women Summit as executive director of the Council on Women and Girls.

She was previously a lawyer and according to the release, her career accomplishments established her as an advocate for gender equality. “She has a passion and an advocate for women,” Flannery said. “That's why she's sits well with this series.”

Tchen will share her perspective and insights on workforce diversity and inclusion, breaking through male-dominated industries, and ending campus assault.

Flannery said the speakers emphasize the relationship PSU and the government have with one another and expose the community to women leaders.

Tchen will discuss her White House experiences and more during a speech at 7 p.m. Tuesday, November 14 inside the Linda and Lee Scott Performance Hall at the Bicknell Family Center for the Arts.

There will be time for questions and answers after Tchen’s presentation.

The event is free and open to the public, and it is made possible by the Helen S. Boylan Foundation.

— Stephanie Potter is a staff writer at the Morning Sun. She can be emailed at spotter@morningsun.net or follow her on Twitter @PittStephP and Instagram @stephanie_morningsun.